This discussion is great. ..I've had mixed feelings about the flu shot. I've had it once but never again and I've also never had the flu. I'll get it if it's best for my baby but I know my father will refuse to get it, he's old school and doesn't "believe" in such things. Anyone else have this problem? I can't not let him see the baby but if he's healthy then I assume it wouldn't matter and we'd be safe?? Am I wrong?
I think if you have family that you can trust to not come over or let you be around if they aren't feeling well, then you're ok. It's the family that babysit all day for you and only later on tell you that they have a *horrible* cold, etc.
DD1 (2008) DD2 (2010), #3 (DH's first bio kid) on the way in January 2017! Almost always mobile bumping--forgive my typos.
This discussion is great. ..I've had mixed feelings about the flu shot. I've had it once but never again and I've also never had the flu. I'll get it if it's best for my baby but I know my father will refuse to get it, he's old school and doesn't "believe" in such things. Anyone else have this problem? I can't not let him see the baby but if he's healthy then I assume it wouldn't matter and we'd be safe?? Am I wrong?
Ok so from what I've seen, if you ask this question to 10 people, you'll get 5 who say to let him see her if he's not sick and 5 who say to insist on vaccination. My 2 cents, FWIW - you can't control other people's actions, and the decision to get a flu shot is really a personal choice. If you try to dictate that they get a flu shot, or any other shot, and they're adamantly against the idea, you're just going to end up with a conflict with that person. Now, to the 5 out of 10 who say to insist on vaccination, protecting the baby's immune system is worth that conflict. Me personally, I have more than enough drama with my in-laws already. DH and I have agreed to insist that people postpone visits if anyone in their home is ill or feels like they MIGHT be coming down with something (as I mentioned in a previous comment, we have had problems with his family recognizing the need to stay away when sick in the past), and I feel like in our situation, the fact that he's agreeing to this is a huge win. I'm not going to push the vaccines.
ETA I have no idea if DH's family vaccinates or not; my guess would be that they keep up with them for kids but probably not as adults unless it's required by their employer for whatever reason, just based on DH's mindset and how they are with other things. But I do know that if I try to dictate that they should get them, it will not go over well and I've been accused of being unwelcoming by my MIL on previous occasions (undeserved, IMO,but apparently that's how they feel). It's really hard on my husband that things are tense between me and his family, so I'm trying really hard not to cause too much tension unless I feel like it's necessary. For me, vaccines are not a hill to die on, but preventing visits from those who are currently and obviously ill is.
@BriannaE129129 my thoughts on it- I have 2 family members (step sister and a cousin) who are antivaxxers, my babies won't be around them/ their children at all until they've had at least a couple rounds of vaccines (mine, not theirs, so 4-6 months?)
I'm asking the grandparents and aunts who'll be around a lot to have flu shots and tdap boosters but I can't force them and even if I did it wouldn't be perfect herd immunity- my dad is immunocompromised from leukemia (in remission but his levels never went back to normal) and can't have most vaccines. I can only control my own choices of getting the vaccines to protect my babies and making judgment calls on the health of the people around them (if they don't look healthy and won't just admit it/ stay away)
I don't usually get the flu shot, but I do when I'm pregnant. I'm an elementary school teacher so it's probably best, especially this time of the year. My husband isn't sure yet and we'll have our son get one since he'll stay in daycare while I'm on maternity. I'll also get a tdap booster, even though I had it two and a half years ago.
As for other people, I know that our parents and sisters will stay away if sick. They're scared to get the baby sick. I'm not going to stress out too much about them. Others, I may just keep them away until at least our first set of shots. I feel like I need to relax a little though because she's going to be around big brother, who will be germ infested.
I'll be getting a flu shot. So will my 2 girls. My H has already gotten his at work. It seems to lessen things most years, but last yr I got influenza b. I'm hoping it works better this yr.
Yes I will be getting it. I had my daughter at the exact same time this one is due and I got it when I was pregnant with her. It does pass on to the baby so it protects them a bit as well. My daughter didn't even get her first cold until she was almost a year old.
@BriannaE129129 I am going to gently suggest that my immediate family members are up to date on their flu shots / vaccines this winter, but I am not going to police them about it. I trust my family and close friends to stay away when they're sick or even possibly sick. I will definitely ask everyone to wash their hands upon entering my house or prior to holding the baby. I also plan to discuss recommended precautions with the pediatrician.
Nope, not getting it. Never have, son hasn't and DH who is an EMT and worked in doctor's offices has never gotten it. I've heard if you've never received it, you are way behind the game on any immunity it would offer, since it changesfrom year to year. So, we just don't, but do whatever helps you sleep at night, that's what matters.
so I wanted to take so time before I responded to this so it hopefully wouldn't come across the wrong way. I am not trying to come across as holier than thou to those of you who are not choosing to get the flu shot but I did want to offer an explanation for why this bolded statement is wrong so that someone isn't making a decision on the shot in misinformation. I am not a medical doctor but I am a molecular biologist and have taken two courses in immunology one in college and one in a PhD program.
It is true that the flu changes from year to year but there are two forms the way the flu changes. One way is called antigenic drift where the flu changes its outside proteins just enough that it can give you the flu but it's usually a more mild form because your body either has prior immunity from having the flu or from a flu shot. The other way is called antigenic shift which is where the flu changes its outside proteins so much that basically no one has any immunity to it (for this to happen usually a pig will be co-infected with bird flu and human flu and the two virus' switch genes between one another and we get a completely new form of the flu no one has seen before). Antigenic shift is what leads to world wide pandemic like H1N1 flu in 2009.
Getting a flu shot can only increase your ability to fight the flu. The amount of immunity granted by a single flu shot is the same no matter if it's your first or your 10th.
Nope, not getting it. Never have, son hasn't and DH who is an EMT and worked in doctor's offices has never gotten it. I've heard if you've never received it, you are way behind the game on any immunity it would offer, since it changesfrom year to year. So, we just don't, but do whatever helps you sleep at night, that's what matters.
so I wanted to take so time before I responded to this so it hopefully wouldn't come across the wrong way. I am not trying to come across as holier than thou to those of you who are not choosing to get the flu shot but I did want to offer an explanation for why this bolded statement is wrong so that someone isn't making a decision on the shot in misinformation. I am not a medical doctor but I am a molecular biologist and have taken two courses in immunology one in college and one in a PhD program.
It is true that the flu changes from year to year but there are two forms the way the flu changes. One way is called antigenic drift where the flu changes its outside proteins just enough that it can give you the flu but it's usually a more mild form because your body either has prior immunity from having the flu or from a flu shot. The other way is called antigenic shift which is where the flu changes its outside proteins so much that basically no one has any immunity to it (for this to happen usually a pig will be co-infected with bird flu and human flu and the two virus' switch genes between one another and we get a completely new form of the flu no one has seen before). Antigenic shift is what leads to world wide pandemic like H1N1 flu in 2009.
Getting a flu shot can only increase your ability to fight the flu. The amount of immunity granted by a single flu shot is the same no matter if it's your first or your 10th.
Thanks for explaining this! I have a very, very limited science background and haven't taken a biology class since my freshman year of high school (which I'm sure contributes to my confusion over what to do haha!) and I appreciate you taking the time to explain how exactly this works. I still want to talk to my doctor about it, but this is really helpful!
ETA also, one of the reasons I'm so hesitant about the flu shot is the fact that the strains change every year, so I always have wondered how much testing could possibly go into it before it's released to the public. I know most vaccines are tested for years before this step is taken and that way there is a way to get an idea of both the short term and long term effects, both positive and potentially negative. With your background, do you know if the changes that are made to the vaccine are significant enough that that could possibly have different long term side effects?
Nope, not getting it. Never have, son hasn't and DH who is an EMT and worked in doctor's offices has never gotten it. I've heard if you've never received it, you are way behind the game on any immunity it would offer, since it changesfrom year to year. So, we just don't, but do whatever helps you sleep at night, that's what matters.
so I wanted to take so time before I responded to this so it hopefully wouldn't come across the wrong way. I am not trying to come across as holier than thou to those of you who are not choosing to get the flu shot but I did want to offer an explanation for why this bolded statement is wrong so that someone isn't making a decision on the shot in misinformation. I am not a medical doctor but I am a molecular biologist and have taken two courses in immunology one in college and one in a PhD program.
It is true that the flu changes from year to year but there are two forms the way the flu changes. One way is called antigenic drift where the flu changes its outside proteins just enough that it can give you the flu but it's usually a more mild form because your body either has prior immunity from having the flu or from a flu shot. The other way is called antigenic shift which is where the flu changes its outside proteins so much that basically no one has any immunity to it (for this to happen usually a pig will be co-infected with bird flu and human flu and the two virus' switch genes between one another and we get a completely new form of the flu no one has seen before). Antigenic shift is what leads to world wide pandemic like H1N1 flu in 2009.
Getting a flu shot can only increase your ability to fight the flu. The amount of immunity granted by a single flu shot is the same no matter if it's your first or your 10th.
I have gotten it a few times in the past and every single time I end up with some kind of what they put in me. I know this can or can not happen to some. I have been thinking about this as well. At my last dr apt they suggested the whooping cough vaccine for my next visit so I was thinking maybe just go ahead and do the flu shot as well. The rest of my immediate family doesn't get the flu shot but I figured at least protecting myself since baby will be around me most?!
Nope, not getting it. Never have, son hasn't and DH who is an EMT and worked in doctor's offices has never gotten it. I've heard if you've never received it, you are way behind the game on any immunity it would offer, since it changesfrom year to year. So, we just don't, but do whatever helps you sleep at night, that's what matters.
It is true that the flu changes from year to year but there are two forms the way the flu changes. One way is called antigenic drift where the flu changes its outside proteins just enough that it can give you the flu but it's usually a more mild form because your body either has prior immunity from having the flu or from a flu shot.
Getting a flu shot can only increase your ability to fight the flu. The amount of immunity granted by a single flu shot is the same no matter if it's your first or your 10th.
Question, for discussion not trying to start an argument- the doctor I saw explaining this was much like what you said. Those who have received a flu shot for years has gained prior immunity, but if you have not, you do not have this. If you receive it now, you're basically starting at square one for the current expected strain--which is better than no square--but you would have to receive several booster shots to gain the prior strain immunizations you have missed. Going forward, you would begin this building process, but if you have not done so prior, do not expect to be immune from those you missed. Does that make sense?
Team Blue ~ Jan. 20 DS born 9/4/12 MMC July 2015 MMC January 2016
I'm lurking from Dec but wanted to add an important point: flu season goes into the late winter/spring in many areas and is still very much around in Feb/March, when your babies will already be here. The immunity from the flu shot is *thought* to pass to your baby through the placenta, like your other antibodies, and also may pass through breast milk. So it's not just about protecting yourself from the flu. You may be passing antibodies on to your baby so that they can also be somewhat protected (in case dad, MIL, grandfather, etc) comes over and DOES have the flu. Also, if you get the flu, you're not just going to feel miserable while caring for a newborn - you could pass the flu on to your baby and that is really potentially very dangerous for them.
I got influenza A while cruising in the Caribbean once. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. So many people dont understand what a real flu is like -- it's definitely not just a very bad cold. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I didn't get the shot before that but do it routinely now and even if it's not flu season, I make sure I have the latest and greatest shot before traveling. If there is a chance I'll never get the flu again by getting the shot, I'll be taking that chance. I can't even imagine how a flu would affect a kid, let alone a newborn. It was horrid. I thought I was dying. I doesn't come close to any cold I've had before or after.
also, when my son was born, there were a few whooping cough cases in my area. I made any family member who wished to hold my son get that shot, unless they were already up to date. No regrets over that.
I will be getting it. I work in a hospital and it is highly recommended. There is no reason not to get one - you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.
This.
Additionally, just because you've never had the flu in the past doesn't mean you're exempt from getting it in the future.
I hope this doesn't step on anyone's toes and turn this into an anti- or pro-vaccine thread but I wanted to share this because I recently ran across this and thought it relevant to this discussion. I think it may address many concerns people have about vaccinations in general. ✌ https://thescientificparent.org/vaccines-101-too-much-too-soon/
I got mine 3 weeks ago. Remember though that it's for influenza- not the stomach flu. I had influenza once when I was 21 and super healthy and I thought I was dying, I cannot even imagine an infant suffering through that
This, this and more this! Influenza is horrible and not the same thing as a stomach bug. Watched a college roommate go through it freshmen year. I felt so badly for her. I'm getting the flu shot and the TDAP as recommended by my Dr. I've also got the shot every year I've been a teacher. Plus, my Dad is a heart transplant recipient so if we want to be around him it's a must.
I hope this doesn't step on anyone's toes and turn this into an anti- or pro-vaccine thread but I wanted to share this because I recently ran across this and thought it relevant to this discussion. I think it may address many concerns people have about vaccinations in general. ✌ https://thescientificparent.org/vaccines-101-too-much-too-soon/
Great article! BTW- flu vaccine is one of two vaccines I'm skeptical about (keeping the other one to myself because it's more controversial and I don't want to get into a debate over it other than to say that it's not one I have to worry about for DD for quite some time). DD is up to date on all of her shots, including chicken pox, which I was on the fence about until I learned that if she were to contract it while I was pregnant, the baby could contract it in utero with devastating consequences, including blindness. So yeah, she got that as soon as she could haha. Thank goodness for vaccines!
I will add myself to the list of "I never again want to experience the flu". I got the swine flu in 2009 while in college and called my mom to tell her I was dying and I needed to tell her I loved her. I just remember laying on my bed in soaking wet clothes from sweat just watching the fan spin, praying it would end soon. It took me like 2 weeks to recover. I've gotten a flu shot every year since.
I will add myself to the list of "I never again want to experience the flu". I got the swine flu in 2009 while in college and called my mom to tell her I was dying and I needed to tell her I loved her. I just remember laying on my bed in soaking wet clothes from sweat just watching the fan spin, praying it would end soon. It took me like 2 weeks to recover. I've gotten a flu shot every year since.
I can tell I'm totally hormonal right now because I teared up at reading this. That was totally me. I felt your feels.
@karaelaine1991 I think your question about the possibility of increased risk of adverse reactions due to how quickly the shot comes out each year is a great question. My understanding for the flu shot (which means I could be wrong) is they make it the same way each year, the only thing that changes is the virus they put into it (and when the virus has undergone antigenic drift it's very similar to the previous year's strain) and the process for making the vaccine is an FDA approved process. Each year flu season starts in Asia and based on outbreaks in those countries vaccine makers make their best guess as to which will be the dominant strain that makes its way around the world (Some years they are right and some years they aren't and those are the years when the vaccine might be less effective). Once they have that virus picked out they either grow the virus in eggs (how it's been done for decades) or in mammalian cells (only been approved for a few years) and after the viruses have multipled enough they are collected and either killed and put into a shot or attenuated (severely weakened but not fully dead) for the nasal spray form. This is the same process every year so the risk of adverse effects due to the contents of the vaccine in terms of preservatives or adjuvants (an adjuvant just helps the immune system build a stronger response to the pathogen it's against) shouldn't vary from year to year. And because the usually virus changes such a small amount they don't need as long of a testing period as a vaccine being created from scratch. The main adverse effects are related to pain at the injection site. Some people might also experience some lethargy or a mild fever resulting from the immune system responding to the vaccine but this is not that person getting the flu from the vaccine, and this discomfort is so mild compared to getting the actual flu. They might feel like they have gotten sick but they are not infected with the flu - if they test positive for the flu after a shot then they had already contracted flu before they got the shot and just didn't know it yet. People who are allergic to eggs would have an allergic reaction to any egg proteins that are still in the vaccine following the virus purification and that would be true of any vaccine not just the flu.
That was really long but I hope it helps some -but I definitely think it's still something to talk to the doctor about. I will warn you though that if they don't give you a good answer that addresses your concerns then that's a reflection of their bed side manner not a reflection of you or your intelligence. I think in the age we are in some doctors are just hyper sensitive to questions about vaccines and might easily go on autopilot without actually engaging you in dialogue and if that's the case I would think about finding a new doctor.
@AlabamaRedhead - yes your response made sense. I think I interpreted your original statement as saying that someone getting the flu shot for the first time would be significantly less protected against the current years flu than someone who had multiple shots. It is true that someone who has gotten the flu shot in the past will be at an extra advantage than someone who is getting their first flu shot But (and I didn't really go into this like I should have before) the advantage that the person has isn't really that big. Antibodies work by binding to a specific antigen (anything that causes an immune response is an antigen - it can be from something infectious like bacteria or a virus and they can come from something not infectious like peanus). Also, the antigen that an antibody binds to is very very small. One bacteria can produce hundreds of thousands of antigens. How strongly the antibody connects with the antigen is directly related to how effective it is at starting an immune response. Some antibodies bind so strongly they never come off the antigen and they can consistently cause a strong response. Others connect less strongly so that they bind on and fall off. Tthey cause a less strong response because they only cause an immune response when they are connected to their antigen. As we said earlier every year the flu changes. When it's a change called antigenic drift the change is very small and it's possible that someone who has antibodies to a previous flu could have some antibodies that bind weakly to the new flu and thus have a small immune response. But the flu strains that those old antibodies would bind strongly to aren't around anymore and both the person who has had the flu or had shots previously and the person getting their first flu shot would both make new strong antibodies to the new flu and thus they both have the same ability to mount a good strong response.
I hope this doesn't step on anyone's toes and turn this into an anti- or pro-vaccine thread but I wanted to share this because I recently ran across this and thought it relevant to this discussion. I think it may address many concerns people have about vaccinations in general. ✌ https://thescientificparent.org/vaccines-101-too-much-too-soon/
Great article! BTW- flu vaccine is one of two vaccines I'm skeptical about (keeping the other one to myself because it's more controversial and I don't want to get into a debate over it other than to say that it's not one I have to worry about for DD for quite some time). DD is up to date on all of her shots, including chicken pox, which I was on the fence about until I learned that if she were to contract it while I was pregnant, the baby could contract it in utero with devastating consequences, including blindness. So yeah, she got that as soon as she could haha. Thank goodness for vaccines!
I was also on the fence about a chicken pox vaccine until my ob made a point I never thought of. If you have natural immunity to chicken pox you can develop shingles in periods where you are immune compromised (like pregnancy or just when you are old) because it's caused by the chicken pox virus reactivating in you body. People who have vaccine immunity can never get shingles because they have never had a live viral infection. I have heard horror stories of what it's like to get shingles and now I wish I had the vaccine instead of the chicken pox lol.
I hope this doesn't step on anyone's toes and turn this into an anti- or pro-vaccine thread but I wanted to share this because I recently ran across this and thought it relevant to this discussion. I think it may address many concerns people have about vaccinations in general. ✌ https://thescientificparent.org/vaccines-101-too-much-too-soon/
Great article! BTW- flu vaccine is one of two vaccines I'm skeptical about (keeping the other one to myself because it's more controversial and I don't want to get into a debate over it other than to say that it's not one I have to worry about for DD for quite some time). DD is up to date on all of her shots, including chicken pox, which I was on the fence about until I learned that if she were to contract it while I was pregnant, the baby could contract it in utero with devastating consequences, including blindness. So yeah, she got that as soon as she could haha. Thank goodness for vaccines!
I was also on the fence about a chicken pox vaccine until my ob made a point I never thought of. If you have natural immunity to chicken pox you can develop shingles in periods where you are immune compromised (like pregnancy or just when you are old) because it's caused by the chicken pox virus reactivating in you body. People who have vaccine immunity can never get shingles because they have never had a live viral infection. I have heard horror stories of what it's like to get shingles and now I wish I had the vaccine instead of the chicken pox lol.
I got shingles last pregnancy. Sucked. I had pox as a kid -and didn't get the vaccine; have faded dimple scars around my eyes. The shingles aspect of it doesn't affect womb babies when you get it - thank God. Doc said it was because of pregnancy and the fact I was super stressed dealing with HG.
@karaelaine1991 I think your question about the possibility of increased risk of adverse reactions due to how quickly the shot comes out each year is a great question. My understanding for the flu shot (which means I could be wrong) is they make it the same way each year, the only thing that changes is the virus they put into it (and when the virus has undergone antigenic drift it's very similar to the previous year's strain) and the process for making the vaccine is an FDA approved process. Each year flu season starts in Asia and based on outbreaks in those countries vaccine makers make their best guess as to which will be the dominant strain that makes its way around the world (Some years they are right and some years they aren't and those are the years when the vaccine might be less effective). Once they have that virus picked out they either grow the virus in eggs (how it's been done for decades) or in mammalian cells (only been approved for a few years) and after the viruses have multipled enough they are collected and either killed and put into a shot or attenuated (severely weakened but not fully dead) for the nasal spray form. This is the same process every year so the risk of adverse effects due to the contents of the vaccine in terms of preservatives or adjuvants (an adjuvant just helps the immune system build a stronger response to the pathogen it's against) shouldn't vary from year to year. And because the usually virus changes such a small amount they don't need as long of a testing period as a vaccine being created from scratch. The main adverse effects are related to pain at the injection site. Some people might also experience some lethargy or a mild fever resulting from the immune system responding to the vaccine but this is not that person getting the flu from the vaccine, and this discomfort is so mild compared to getting the actual flu. They might feel like they have gotten sick but they are not infected with the flu - if they test positive for the flu after a shot then they had already contracted flu before they got the shot and just didn't know it yet. People who are allergic to eggs would have an allergic reaction to any egg proteins that are still in the vaccine following the virus purification and that would be true of any vaccine not just the flu.
That was really long but I hope it helps some -but I definitely think it's still something to talk to the doctor about. I will warn you though that if they don't give you a good answer that addresses your concerns then that's a reflection of their bed side manner not a reflection of you or your intelligence. I think in the age we are in some doctors are just hyper sensitive to questions about vaccines and might easily go on autopilot without actually engaging you in dialogue and if that's the case I would think about finding a new doctor.
@AlabamaRedhead - yes your response made sense. I think I interpreted your original statement as saying that someone getting the flu shot for the first time would be significantly less protected against the current years flu than someone who had multiple shots. It is true that someone who has gotten the flu shot in the past will be at an extra advantage than someone who is getting their first flu shot But (and I didn't really go into this like I should have before) the advantage that the person has isn't really that big. Antibodies work by binding to a specific antigen (anything that causes an immune response is an antigen - it can be from something infectious like bacteria or a virus and they can come from something not infectious like peanus). Also, the antigen that an antibody binds to is very very small. One bacteria can produce hundreds of thousands of antigens. How strongly the antibody connects with the antigen is directly related to how effective it is at starting an immune response. Some antibodies bind so strongly they never come off the antigen and they can consistently cause a strong response. Others connect less strongly so that they bind on and fall off. Tthey cause a less strong response because they only cause an immune response when they are connected to their antigen. As we said earlier every year the flu changes. When it's a change called antigenic drift the change is very small and it's possible that someone who has antibodies to a previous flu could have some antibodies that bind weakly to the new flu and thus have a small immune response. But the flu strains that those old antibodies would bind strongly to aren't around anymore and both the person who has had the flu or had shots previously and the person getting their first flu shot would both make new strong antibodies to the new flu and thus they both have the same ability to mount a good strong response.
Thank you so much for explaining all of that! Will be confirming with my doctor but that definitely makes me feel a lot better about it. My grandma died of cancer that her doctor believed developed after she went through a treatment for a different health issue, but the treatment was later found to be linked to causing breast cancer, so I'm very cautious about the long term effects of new medical developments. Thanks again!
I talked with my OB and she recommended getting the flu shot at the end of the month. I've always received the flu shot and did it last pregnancy with no issues that I recall.
@ceclarlinetlo *slow clap* can I just screen shot that and blast it to all the anti-vaxers I know? I'm requesting mine this week at my appointment, nobody has said anything to me about needing it yet but thanks but no thanks on the flu while pregnant.
Also, shingles while pregnant sounds like hell-fire.
I guess for those wondering about reactions because they don't get the shots usually- I never do. I had influenza and thought I was dying but then a couple of years there were shortages/ possible shortages so as a healthy adult with no kids and rarely being around olds or youngs I left what shots there were to the people who needed them.
I had no reaction at all to the shot besides a mega sore arm for a few days. And I'm usually one who cuts all meds in half because they affect me so strongly!
Just wondering if anyone had side effects from the shot? I had the flu shot and whooping cough shot (which they recommend here) this am and started feeling AWFUL this afternoon. Super light headed, numb and with a headache. I made my husband come get me at work after I forgot how to spell sorry and had to ask the girl I manage for help...
The nurse warned me about these side effects as a possibility but I've never had side effects from a shot before .
My husband and I got our flu and TDAP yesterday and both of us are fine so far, we just have really sore arms!! I have had a reaction to TDAP in the past where it made me feel under the weather and feverish, but that was a good 7 years ago. I haven't had any of that his time around.
I always get mild side effects that go away within 48 hours. I just tell myself it's a zillion times better than getting the real thing. When my husband whines about it, I tell him, "suck it up buttercup."
Little off topic before I had influenza A while on vacation (getting quarantined to your stateroom while in the freaking Caribbean is no fun), he never got any seasonal shots and hadn't had any shots since college. I never got one because I just never did before. He was a conspiracy person about shots, just like his family. I got in his face with science and told him he doesn't have the option to opt out anymore. Haha. They all (his family) got their shots before being allowed to hold our son and now get them annually because they know it's important to me.
Re: Flu shot?
Almost always mobile bumping--forgive my typos.
ETA I have no idea if DH's family vaccinates or not; my guess would be that they keep up with them for kids but probably not as adults unless it's required by their employer for whatever reason, just based on DH's mindset and how they are with other things. But I do know that if I try to dictate that they should get them, it will not go over well and I've been accused of being unwelcoming by my MIL on previous occasions (undeserved, IMO,but apparently that's how they feel). It's really hard on my husband that things are tense between me and his family, so I'm trying really hard not to cause too much tension unless I feel like it's necessary. For me, vaccines are not a hill to die on, but preventing visits from those who are currently and obviously ill is.
I'm asking the grandparents and aunts who'll be around a lot to have flu shots and tdap boosters but I can't force them and even if I did it wouldn't be perfect herd immunity- my dad is immunocompromised from leukemia (in remission but his levels never went back to normal) and can't have most vaccines. I can only control my own choices of getting the vaccines to protect my babies and making judgment calls on the health of the people around them (if they don't look healthy and won't just admit it/ stay away)
As for other people, I know that our parents and sisters will stay away if sick. They're scared to get the baby sick. I'm not going to stress out too much about them. Others, I may just keep them away until at least our first set of shots. I feel like I need to relax a little though because she's going to be around big brother, who will be germ infested.
It is true that the flu changes from year to year but there are two forms the way the flu changes. One way is called antigenic drift where the flu changes its outside proteins just enough that it can give you the flu but it's usually a more mild form because your body either has prior immunity from having the flu or from a flu shot. The other way is called antigenic shift which is where the flu changes its outside proteins so much that basically no one has any immunity to it (for this to happen usually a pig will be co-infected with bird flu and human flu and the two virus' switch genes between one another and we get a completely new form of the flu no one has seen before). Antigenic shift is what leads to world wide pandemic like H1N1 flu in 2009.
Getting a flu shot can only increase your ability to fight the flu. The amount of immunity granted by a single flu shot is the same no matter if it's your first or your 10th.
BFP1 12/24/14 - EDD 09/07/15 (D/C 8w1d)
BFP2 6/12/15 - EDD 2/22/16 (D/C 10w3d)
———
Diagnoses and Treatments
PCOS (myo-inositol, excercize)
Indeterminant levels of APS IgM antibodies (baby aspirin)
Sub-septate uterus (hysteroscopic septoplasty 12/18/15)
———
BFP3 05/02/16 EDD 01/09/17 DS born 01/05/17
BFP4 01/28/19 EDD 10/?/19 🤞🙏
ETA also, one of the reasons I'm so hesitant about the flu shot is the fact that the strains change every year, so I always have wondered how much testing could possibly go into it before it's released to the public. I know most vaccines are tested for years before this step is taken and that way there is a way to get an idea of both the short term and long term effects, both positive and potentially negative. With your background, do you know if the changes that are made to the vaccine are significant enough that that could possibly have different long term side effects?
edit: I just read what you added and I'm out running errands right now but I can respond later!
BFP1 12/24/14 - EDD 09/07/15 (D/C 8w1d)
BFP2 6/12/15 - EDD 2/22/16 (D/C 10w3d)
———
Diagnoses and Treatments
PCOS (myo-inositol, excercize)
Indeterminant levels of APS IgM antibodies (baby aspirin)
Sub-septate uterus (hysteroscopic septoplasty 12/18/15)
———
BFP3 05/02/16 EDD 01/09/17 DS born 01/05/17
BFP4 01/28/19 EDD 10/?/19 🤞🙏
Team Blue ~ Jan. 20
DS born 9/4/12
MMC July 2015
MMC January 2016
also, when my son was born, there were a few whooping cough cases in my area. I made any family member who wished to hold my son get that shot, unless they were already up to date. No regrets over that.
Additionally, just because you've never had the flu in the past doesn't mean you're exempt from getting it in the future.
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17
✌
https://thescientificparent.org/vaccines-101-too-much-too-soon/
right now because I teared up at reading this. That was totally me. I felt your feels.
That was really long but I hope it helps some -but I definitely think it's still something to talk to the doctor about. I will warn you though that if they don't give you a good answer that addresses your concerns then that's a reflection of their bed side manner not a reflection of you or your intelligence. I think in the age we are in some doctors are just hyper sensitive to questions about vaccines and might easily go on autopilot without actually engaging you in dialogue and if that's the case I would think about finding a new doctor.
@AlabamaRedhead - yes your response made sense. I think I interpreted your original statement as saying that someone getting the flu shot for the first time would be significantly less protected against the current years flu than someone who had multiple shots. It is true that someone who has gotten the flu shot in the past will be at an extra advantage than someone who is getting their first flu shot But (and I didn't really go into this like I should have before) the advantage that the person has isn't really that big. Antibodies work by binding to a specific antigen (anything that causes an immune response is an antigen - it can be from something infectious like bacteria or a virus and they can come from something not infectious like peanus). Also, the antigen that an antibody binds to is very very small. One bacteria can produce hundreds of thousands of antigens. How strongly the antibody connects with the antigen is directly related to how effective it is at starting an immune response. Some antibodies bind so strongly they never come off the antigen and they can consistently cause a strong response. Others connect less strongly so that they bind on and fall off. Tthey cause a less strong response because they only cause an immune response when they are connected to their antigen. As we said earlier every year the flu changes. When it's a change called antigenic drift the change is very small and it's possible that someone who has antibodies to a previous flu could have some antibodies that bind weakly to the new flu and thus have a small immune response. But the flu strains that those old antibodies would bind strongly to aren't around anymore and both the person who has had the flu or had shots previously and the person getting their first flu shot would both make new strong antibodies to the new flu and thus they both have the same ability to mount a good strong response.
BFP1 12/24/14 - EDD 09/07/15 (D/C 8w1d)
BFP2 6/12/15 - EDD 2/22/16 (D/C 10w3d)
———
Diagnoses and Treatments
PCOS (myo-inositol, excercize)
Indeterminant levels of APS IgM antibodies (baby aspirin)
Sub-septate uterus (hysteroscopic septoplasty 12/18/15)
———
BFP3 05/02/16 EDD 01/09/17 DS born 01/05/17
BFP4 01/28/19 EDD 10/?/19 🤞🙏
BFP1 12/24/14 - EDD 09/07/15 (D/C 8w1d)
BFP2 6/12/15 - EDD 2/22/16 (D/C 10w3d)
———
Diagnoses and Treatments
PCOS (myo-inositol, excercize)
Indeterminant levels of APS IgM antibodies (baby aspirin)
Sub-septate uterus (hysteroscopic septoplasty 12/18/15)
———
BFP3 05/02/16 EDD 01/09/17 DS born 01/05/17
BFP4 01/28/19 EDD 10/?/19 🤞🙏
BFP1 12/24/14 - EDD 09/07/15 (D/C 8w1d)
BFP2 6/12/15 - EDD 2/22/16 (D/C 10w3d)
———
Diagnoses and Treatments
PCOS (myo-inositol, excercize)
Indeterminant levels of APS IgM antibodies (baby aspirin)
Sub-septate uterus (hysteroscopic septoplasty 12/18/15)
———
BFP3 05/02/16 EDD 01/09/17 DS born 01/05/17
BFP4 01/28/19 EDD 10/?/19 🤞🙏
THANK you for taking the time to share that with all of us! You are so generous with your knowledge and we are so lucky!
Also I think I'm Kranging a future scientist because A kicked the crap out of me the whole time I read that
Also, shingles while pregnant sounds like hell-fire.
I had no reaction at all to the shot besides a mega sore arm for a few days. And I'm usually one who cuts all meds in half because they affect me so strongly!
Just wondering if anyone had side effects from the shot? I had the flu shot and whooping cough shot (which they recommend here) this am and started feeling AWFUL this afternoon. Super light headed, numb and with a headache. I made my husband come get me at work after I forgot how to spell sorry and had to ask the girl I manage for help...
The nurse warned me about these side effects as a possibility but I've never had side effects from a shot before
(edit- still happy that I got the shots though!)
Little off topic
before I had influenza A while on vacation (getting quarantined to your stateroom while in the freaking Caribbean is no fun), he never got any seasonal shots and hadn't had any shots since college. I never got one because I just never did before. He was a conspiracy person about shots, just like his family. I got in his face with science and told him he doesn't have the option to opt out anymore. Haha. They all (his family) got their shots before being allowed to hold our son and now get them annually because they know it's important to me.